7 Delicious BBQ Recipes
With social distancing now being the norm, arranging a bbq in order to get together with our nearest and dearest will be commonplace in gardens up and down the country.
Here we have some delicious bbq recipe and meal ideas to have on your menu as well as highlight some of the important aspects of enjoying food safely to make it enjoyable for all.
Food poisoning
Food poisoning can double over the summer, bacteria which is invisible to our eyes, multiply faster in the warmth and can cause not only an upset stomach for a few days, but it can be more severe or even deadly, especially for those who are particularly vulnerable, such as children and older people. Salmonella, E. coli and campylobacter are just some of the bacteria that can cause food poisoning but can be killed by cooking meat properly. Remember to keep food covered, away from flies or other insects.
Tips for a safer barbecue
Below are a few essential tips to reduce the risk of food poisoning.
- Make sure anything frozen is defrosted properly.
- The coals should be glowing red before cooking, disposable barbecues take longer to heat and cook.
- Pre-cook all chicken, minced meat products (burgers and sausages) in the oven before and give them a final finish on the barbecue for flavour.
- Even though meats may look charred and cooked, cut into the thickest part of chicken, burgers or sausages and ensure any juices are clear or there is no pink meat.
- Turn the meat often and move it around to make sure it is cooked evenly.
- Do not wash raw chicken, this will just splash and spread bacteria about.
- Avoid cross-contamination by storing and keeping cutlery separate for raw and cooked foods and observe personal hygiene, such as washing hands regularly.
As well as foods that need to be cooked, it is important to keep some foods cool to reduce food poisoning. These include:
- Salads, including those with rice or grains
- Dairy products
- Dips and dressings
- Sandwiches
Barbecues and cancer
Heating meat to high temperatures, especially through smoke by fat dripping onto the coals, produce cancer causing chemicals. Although it is unlikely having a few seasonal barbecues will increase the risk significantly, there are a few ways to reduce these chemicals and contribute to eating more healthily.
By choosing both lean cuts of meat and less highly processed ones which are often higher in fat (or choose reduced fat varieties) and marinating meat first before cooking, this can reduce the chemicals produced. In addition, discard any parts that are badly burnt.
Healthy eating
Healthier alternatives and substitutions:
- Try homemade kebabs on skewers by adding chunks of vegetables such as courgettes, onions, peppers and aubergine. Slightly pre-cooked sweetcorn is also a perfect barbecue vegetable.
- Make your own marinades by mixing passata, garlic, herbs or mustard, lemon and honey with a little olive oil over meats, these can also be brushed on kebabs.
- Rely on herbs and spices rather than salt.
- Rather than highly processed meats, such as sausages and burgers; choose lean cuts of free-range chicken and meats which have less fat.
- Fish is a tasty alternative to meat; each portion can be wrapped in a foil parcel with a little lemon juice and herbs and cooked on the barbecue for about 10 minutes.
- Potatoes in their jackets, wrapped in foil and put under the coals for about an hour provide a healthy alternative to shop bought potato salad.
Try some of our delicious BBQ recipes
Chicken Satay
Grilled Steak with Tarragon Dressing
Fish Tacos
Chargrilled Vegetable & Halloumi Skewers
Serve a couple of salads for people to accompany their main meal with.
Fig and Feta Salad
Red Leaf Salad
Colourful Coleslaw
